View up Stoneham Street (Detail).
In the distance you can just see the free-standing sign for the 'Royal Oak Inn'. In the 1950's and 60's this house was the home of the artist Cyril Barraud whose uncle, Francis Barraud, painted, 'His Masters Voice' the picture used by HMV as their trademark and which appeared on all their records. The executives and board members of the Gramophone Company all wanted a copy of the famous painting and he eventually painted twenty-four of them at £35 each. Cyril Barraud, who was a watercolourist and engraver, moved to Coggeshall in the 1950's and died here in April 1965. It is said that he helped his uncle paint the final version of the HMV picture featuring the dog 'Nipper'. Apparently the original is still in the offices of EMI.
Photo courtesy Douglas Judd

Date: c1905
Ref: 101/32b